A man accused of hitting a teenager and leaving her to die pleaded not guilty to a hit-and-run charge Tuesday, the Henry County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.
Robert Huynh also faces charges of tampering with evidence and failure to report an accident in the June 19 crash that killed 16-year-old Tasia Gartner, according to an indictment. He pleaded not guilty to those charges as well, district attorney spokeswoman Megan Matteucci said.
RELATED: $50K bond for driver in hit-and-run that killed teen
Gartner and a friend were walking along Ga. 81 in McDonough when a car in the westbound lane hit her as she tried to cross, police said. Her body came to rest on the north shoulder of the road. She was later pronounced dead.
The car drove away from the scene without stopping, police said.
Three days after the crash, authorities arrested Huynh and found his 2007 Honda Fit, which investigators alleged in court he had repaired after the crash.
RELATED: Vehicular homicide charge dropped in hit-and-run death
Huynh was initially charged with vehicular homicide, but that charge was dropped when his attorney argued in court that Gartner was in the middle of the highway at night, outside a crosswalk and was not wearing reflective clothing.
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